Maradona led Argentina to the World Cup in 1986 and was named the tournament's best player but although Messi scored four goals in the group stage he failed to find the net in the knockout rounds and was subdued in the final.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter also expressed surprise at the choice on Monday which was made by the soccer governing body's technical study group.

"Shall I be diplomatic or tell the truth, OK the truth ... I was a bit surprised he was the choice but his goals were decisive at the start of the tournament," Blatter told reporters at his final media briefing of the 2014 World Cup.